Electrical snap switch



Aug. 28,1923. 1,466,280

H. GROSS ELECTRICAL SNAP SWITCH Filed Oct. 28 1919 '3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 28, 1923. I

. H. GROSS ELECTRICAL SNAP SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 00* 28 v i 0 5, y w W a g I- H m mm-=I:I :Hi w W WZ/IJ/ j mmmtoz 3%;

Patented Aug. 28, 1923.

UNITED STATES nane ea'ra'r orriea.

HUGO GROSS, OF RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRICAL SNAP SWITCH. I

Application filed October 28, 1919. Serial No. 333,938.

To' all whom it may coneem:

Be it known that I, H UGo Gnoss, citizen of the United States, and resident of Ridgewood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Sna Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to switches.

The objects of my invention are to provide an inexpensive, simple and dependable device of this kind which may be not only installed with greater ease than other switches, but which will afford far greater safety in its use.

The above and other objects will be more fully apparent from the following descrlption and the accompanying drawings formin part of this specificat10n,-in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a switch board comprising my device.

Figure2 isa bottom view of thesame partially in section.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the switch board, partially in section.

Figure 4 is a" front elevation of switch housing.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a single switch housing with a switch installed.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of same.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of same, partially in section.

Figure 8 is a sectional side view. of my switch in. contacting position. I

Figure 9 is a front elevation of same.

Figure 10 is a top view of same.

Figure 11 is a sectional side vview of my switch in disconnected position.

Figures 12, 13, and 14 illustrate a switch member.

Figure 15 is a side view bracket.

Figure 16 illustrates a push button.

Referring to the drawings, a switch housing 5'1 is shown seated in a recess of wall 2, the housing having a base-plate 3 made of fiber, slate or any other insulating material upon which the switch mechanisms may be mounted, Covering the housing 1 is a dead front plate 1 made in such a way as to pro vide a depression or recess 5. In the depressed' or dented portion or portions are placed the switch buttons 6 and 7, the one having a white center 8, indicating light, the other being black. In Figures 1, 2 and 3 is shown a switch board having a plurality a single of a push button switch board, without fuse of switch mechanisms 9 designed for closing and opening'circuits protected by fuses set into the sockets 10. Each circuit switch may be numbered as indicated at 11.

In Figures 5, 6 and 7 is illustrated a single wall switch made in a similar way to the protection however.

The general construction is the same for bothi switch designs or for any other of different size or use. I will therefore describe same collectively. The switch housing 1 is designed to properly receive the dead. front plates. 4:, and placed into the wall longitudinally, that is with the longer side parallel to the floor and with the inclined portions 12 of the plate 4;- also parallel thereto. These inclinedv portions are preferably bent at an angle of 45 degrees so as to prevent the placing of any object for instance tools,- upon or within the plate. Attached to the dented movement of the buttonsQwhfle the buttons I themselves are equipped with means for limitin their outward travel, as indicated at 16. These latter stopping means also prevent the buttons from leaving the front plate and may be designed in any preferred manner. 161 entire front plate 4 forms together with the push'buttons, their guides and stops 2:. unit independent from. the switch mechanism, thus facilitating the as'-' sembling of the switch in the wall and makingeasier I the switch is once installed.

The highest portion of the front plate is preferably flush with the wall and may be covered b a door or other means as indicated at 17 in dashed and dotted lines;

The push buttons 6 and 7 operate within the recessed portions ofthe front plate and, being shorter than the depth of the recess, never protrude beyond the outer surface of the plate or the wall. Thus an accidental contact withthe buttons by passing rsons or objects is eliminated, and the un ue op eration of the switches is revented. The same applies when covers 1? are used. The push buttons being lower than the cover, the latter will not interfere with orcause the buttons to shift.

The push buttons are. preferably made in the manner shown in Fig. 16 where the button itself is made of insulating material into which a push-rod 18 is firmly secured.

Operated b each pair of such protected push-buttons y way of the push-rods 18 is a switch mechanism 9 consisting of springclips 19 attached to an insulating base-plate 3 by way of screws or other devices 20, which may simultaneously serve as connecting contacts as indicated at 21 (Fig. 2).

At'the center between the clips a standard 22 is fastened to the base-plate by way of screws or bolts 23. The standard preferably comprises fork-shaped uprights 24, the head 25 of which is cut angularly at 26 to an apex or elevated portion 27. At thelower portion of the standard and between the narrow part of the uprights is pivoted at 28 arocking 0r operative T-shaped lever 29, having fork-shaped up-turned portions 30 equipped with slots 31. The lower portion of the rocking lever forms equal-armed wings 32 operated by the push-button rods 18. In these wings are apertures 33 for promembers 35 are conductive switch-knives 38,

made in spring form as indicated at 39, and registering with the spring clips 19.

For limiting the swinging motion of the switch members 35, logs or stops 40 are provided at the reinforcing disks 36, which engage the lower portion of the standard head 25 when the members reach their desired positions for either closing or opening the circuit.

The reinforcing disks may be omitted if desired and stops may be provided in the switch member.

Guided in slots 37 and rolling upon inclines 26 of the head 25 a loose roller or switch rod 41 is engaged by fork-slot 31 of the up-turned lever portion 30 of the operating lever 29.

This roller is held in place under tension by spring 42 which is attached at its upper end to the roller and at its lower end to the pivot 28. In order to prevent the roller 11 from voluntarily slipping out of its guides, end disks or washers 43 are attached at the outer side of the switch members 35.

When either of the buttons is pressed against the corresponding elevated arm 32,

the engaged arm descends and swings the up-turned portion 30 in the direction of the pressed-down button.

Simultaneously the roller 41 is moved from the lower end of guide-slots 37 to the upper end thereof by fork-slot 31 and rolls upon the inclined portion 26 of the head 25 toward the apex 27.

While climbing toward the apex the roller stretches the spring 42 thereby increasing its tension. When reaching the apex 27 the roller has nearly engaged the upper end of guide-slot 37 After having passed the apex the roller snaps into the upper end of the guide-slot 37 and, ropelled by the increased force of the stretched spring, rolls down instantaneously upon the opposite inclined portion 26 of the head 25, thus causing the switch-member to follow its rapid motion. Based upon the above mentioned principal construction, switches of any kind may be made for single-pole double-pole or multiple-pole use with but slight alterations. The construction being simple and easily adaptable to the various kinds of switches, have-shown but one of the many forms.

It is however understood that improvements or changes may be made in the construction of my device without departing from the broad scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A switch cover plate having at least two of its edges elevated and its center portion dished or dented, and disposed below the level of said edges, insulated switch operating means permanently attached to the dished or dented plate portion and so arranged as not to protrude above the level of said edges.

2. In combination with a dished switch cover plate, push buttons having insulated adapted to operate switches covered by said plate.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 18th day of October A. D. 1919.

HUGO GROSS.

push rods permanently fastened thereto and llO 

